Cloud to Cloud

Episode 6: Part 1 - The Train to Hell and Back

The train station buzzed with holiday travelers as Evan shuffled along. He squeezed between throngs of clustered families and outbound urbanites packing off from downtown to suburban family gatherings likely equally enjoyable as the one Evan would be subjected.

He caught the eye of one bleary-eyed mother, hair disheveled, four small children in tow. The youngest, still stroller bound, tapped at the screen of a tablet, and a colorful story book of images flickered across the screen. The eldest, not more than ten, scrolled through lists of songs on a mobile device. Wireless audio earbuds jutted from a pair of pastel pink bedazzled cat ears set atop the young girl's dark hair. The middle two children tapped at mobile devices, causing images of mini explosions to alternate in the space between the pair. The mother's attention flitted from her brood to the GlobeNet connected tablet resting on the awning bonnet of the stroller. Evan made out the numbers of the same gate he was bound for. He flagged the woman down and gestured her to follow.

"Thank you so much, sir." The woman smiled. Sweetness and gratitude alighted genuinely on the woman's face. "It's such a trouble to travel during holiday rush don't you think?"

Evan grunted in response to the woman's attempt at thanks and small talk. "Right."

"And with kids in tow." The woman shifted her attention to make a head count over her offspring. "Do you have any kids?"

Evan didn't intend to openly sneer at the woman, but he knew by her facial reaction his disgust at the thought had been made quite apparent.

"I guess not." The woman smirked before shifting her pace and direction of the stroller slightly. "Well, thanks for your help."

Evan shrugged and saluted loosely at the woman and her gaggle of children as they hurried into the crowd ahead. Evan refocused on his destination. Small talk and big crowds, two of Evan's least favorite things. Nothing would please Evan more than to turn the entire crowd off via remote to avoid conversation. This was not the scene he was accustomed.

Evan reached the platform for his departing train without further occasion to talk to or rescue another human. His mobile device alerted the train of his permission for passage via his electronic tickets. Evan passed through automatic doors into the cylindrical carriage of the train.

He double-checked carriage and seat number against the screen, glancing now and again to confirm he was heading in the right direction as he wove through tightly packed aisles. His eyes remained loosely trained on his mobile device as he awaited signal he had neared his designated seat. The chime sounded as he paused in front of the section. Evan frowned at the only empty seat directly between an overweight older gentleman and a young woman with a snoozing infant in her arms. This leg of the journey was certain to include overt snoring, and probable squalling. Typically both would start around the same point Evan was getting comfortable.

Evan positioned himself between the two annoyances and shoved a set of earbuds into his ears. He slipped into a zone of music from his cloud playlist and opened his tablet to the connection to his office desktop.

Through the window Evan watched as Fred's eyes never left the screen of his mobile device. He ambled his slightly overweight form through throngs of travelers swarmed along the train station platform. Following the blinking green dot on his screen, Fred navigated the station to the waiting train carriage. The doors slid open allowing Fred to enter, still following the direction of his mobile device.

The mapping system on the screen shifted to an image outlining the seating of the interior of the train. Noting each doorway he needed to pass through, the navigation system displayed red flashing squares indicating the seat reserved according to the electronic pass. Fred's blinking blue icon closed on the doors of the next car and he paused, eyes ever on the screen, to wait for the doors to part.